'twas the day before thanksgiving...

wednesday morning started out like most wednesday mornings...kids up just after 6, asking for breakfast, fighting over crayons, crying about who turned on the light...you know, the happy sounds of another day beginning...

the kids didn't have school (neither did dave, actually), which really translates to an entire day of fighting, crying, whining...gee, i couldn't wait!

a little background: ellie burned her hand the night before on the fireplace glass...you know, the glass that covers the flame for protection...yes, that glass. we gave her some tylenol and covered her hand with a sock when she went to bed and decided to check it in the morning.

back to wednesday morning...ellie's hand is blistering and oozing. bad news. gotta call the doctor.

tears from joe...really? he's 10 and the usual bully around here. his soft spot: rascal, his pet rat. it would seem the rat was bleeding from his ears and an eye, and had some awful blister things on his hind feet. gross. gotta call the vet.

as it turns out, ellie has a second-degree burn on her hand...so sad. she's been a really good sport about it, actually. i feel so bad...and we turned off the pilot light for the fireplace, guess it's just for looks now.

about an hour before the vet appointment we found rascal dead in his cage. a very sad moment at our house, that little rodent was dearly loved. i even sorta kinda thought he was okay...for a rat. actually, he was cute...he was this golden color, like a hamster. as long as i didn't look at his long tail, i liked him.

lots of hugs. lots of tears. joseph didn't understand how rascal could die when he said a prayer that he wouldn't...tough questions with some tough answers, but i think he's getting it. joe decorated a box with his name on it and some messages of love...we wrapped the poor thing in a washcloth and buried him in the backyard. the kids wanted to do like they saw in "marley & me" and each say something to him at the "funeral". aubrey couldn't hold back her tears, she was a sobbing mess, poor girl. she read a letter that she wrote to rascal: "dear rascal, i love you. i will miss you, you were like a brother to me." should i be worried? spencer gave a long speech, it was adorable. my favorite thing he said was "we buyed you at the pet store, but i know that jesus made you to come to our family."--aww! rip, rascal...we will miss you!

we ate cold cereal and krispy kreme for dinner...seems fitting since tomorrow we will stuff ourselves silly with thanksgiving!!!!

i am thankful that the day before thanksgiving is over...